Process and apparatus for cooling a digestion vessel of a calorimeter after use

Abstract

To cool a digestion vessel (2) of a calorimeter (3) by means of a liquid coolant, a recess (4) over which the digestion vessel (2) is invented during the cooling possess and which has one or more ports (10) for a cooling liquid by means of which the inside of the digestion vessel (2) is wetted in such a way that the coolant runs down over part or the entireties of this inside of the digestion vessel (2) so as to remove the heat thereof is provided.

Claims

1. A method for cooling a digestion vessel for dry calorimeters, wherein the digestion vessel is cooled after use to a temperature at which the digestion vessel becomes suitable for another use operation, the method comprising: wetting the digestion vessel with a coolant on an interior surface of the digestion vessel configured for facing a reaction chamber of the digestion vessel such that the coolant runs down over the interior surface of the digestion vessel, wherein a plug coupling or attachment device is provided in an area at or adjacent a lower edge of a receptacle for the lower edge of the digestion vessel and that the receptacle has a height and lateral extension that leaves open a gap between an outer surface of the receptacle and the interior surface of the digestion vessel or that the receptacle fills out an interior of the reaction chamber with the exception of a gap which is left open.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coolant is applied as liquid film on the interior surface of the digestion vessel or the interior surface is sprayed with coolant such that it runs down over the interior surface as a film.

3. An apparatus for cooling a digestion vessel for dry calorimeters, the digestion vessel having an interior surface and defining a reaction chamber with an interior opening having a lower edge, the apparatus comprising: a receptacle for accommodating the lower edge of the digestion vessel in a use position, the receptacle having an interior that protrudes from the receptacle and an attachment device for the lower edge; and at least one supply duct for a coolant arranged on the interior of the receptacle, wherein in order to be cooled, the digestion vessel can be detachably attached on the receptacle such that the reaction chamber of the digestion vessel encloses the receptacle, and the digestion vessel can be wetted with a coolant supplied from the at least one supply duct to the interior surface of the digestion vessel such that the coolant runs down over the interior surface of the digestion vessel to cool the digestion vessel after use to a temperature at which the digestion vessel becomes suitable for another use operation, and wherein a plug coupling or attachment device is provided in an area at or adjacent the lower edge of the receptacle for the lower edge of the digestion vessel and that the receptacle has a height and lateral extension that leaves open a gap between an outer surface of the receptacle and the interior surface of the digestion vessel or that the receptacle fills out an interior of the reaction chamber with the exception of a gap which is left open.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the at least one supply duct for the coolant empties into an upper area of the receptacle and/or at a highest point of the receptacle.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein a port of the at least one supply duct is embodied as a spray nozzle.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the at least one supply duct for the coolant has at an end area of the supply duct at least one or more branches and, extending therefrom, several ports on an upper side of the receptacle.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the digestion vessel to be cooled is one of provided with at least one temperature sensor or connected to a temperature sensor with a control unit or a regulator for the coolant from a coolant supply such that, when a predetermined temperature of the digestion vessel is reached, supply of the coolant from the coolant supply can be stopped.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the apparatus has a connector for a temperature transmission device to a temperature sensor of a calorimeter so that the coolant for cooling the digestion vessel can be stopped when the temperature of the digestion vessel has reached a value predetermined by the calorimeter.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the receptacle, in addition to the at least one coolant supply duct, has at least one gas or air line for supplying gas or air for drying after the cooling process.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a side view of an apparatus according to the invention for cooling a digestion vessel of a calorimeter comprising an upwardly protruding receptacle that is able to receive the lower edge of a calorimeter and on whose upper surface ports are arranged in the upper area of a supply for cooling liquid,

(2) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the apparatus held partially in cross section along sectional line A-A in FIG. 1, and

(3) FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through the apparatus according to FIG. 1 with digestion vessel arranged on the receptacle, as well as a schematic view of the connection of a temperature sensor with a regulator or control device and a calorimeter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(4) An apparatus, referred to herein with 1, is used for the cooling of a digestion vessel 2 (FIG. 3) for a dry calorimeter 3 only indicated schematically in FIG. 3. After use, such a digestion vessel 2 is heated substantially by the combustion process carried out in it, so that it is important for quick repeated use to cool it again with commensurate speed.

(5) For this purpose, the apparatus 1 has a receptacle 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 that is designed to accommodate especially the lower edge 5 of the digestion vessel 2 when in the use position according to FIG. 3 and to support and fix it during the cooling process.

(6) In FIG. 3, one can see on the interior of this receptacle 4 a supply duct 6 for a coolant or a cooling liquid to be supplied, preferably water. This cooling liquid emerges at the surface from the receptacle 4 and, as a result, can wet and hence cool the digestion vessel 2 on its interior wall from the inside.

(7) FIG. 3 shows that the receptacle 4 has an attachment device 7 for the edge 5 of the interior opening or the reaction chamber of the digestion vessel 2 which encloses it on the outside in the use position so that the digestion vessel 2, in order to be cooled, can be detachably attached to this receptacle 4 and its edge 7 and is mounted according to FIG. 3 in the use position.

(8) The upright receptacle 4, which is curved or rounded in its upper area, therefore has on its lower edge area the plug coupling formed by the edge 7 for the edge 5 of the digestion vessel 2. The entire receptacle or receiving device 4 has a height and a lateral expansion that leaves a gap 8 open between its surface and the interior of the digestion vessel 2 or its interior chamber, as indicated in FIG. 3. In the use position, the receptacle or receiving device 4 therefore fills out the interior or reaction chamber of the digestion vessel 2 with the exception of this gap 8, which remains open.

(9) It is also visible in FIG. 3 that the supply duct 6 for the coolant empties in the upper area 14 and/or at the highest point of the receptacle 4, so that the coolant therefore emerges in this upper area and at the highest point of the receptacle 4 when it is supplied with sufficient pressure through the supply duct 6. As a result, the interior of the digestion vessel 2 is commensurately sprayed or wetted, so that the coolant can run down over this interior or interior wall, thus bringing about effective cooling without the consumption of an unnecessarily large quantity as coolant. This quantity of coolant can be limited by the width of the gap 8.

(10) In the sample embodiment, it can also be seen that the supply duct 6 for the coolant has in its end area several branches and, extending therefrom, several port ducts 9 with corresponding ports 10 on the surface of the receptacle 4 which can expediently be embodied as a spray nozzle. The coolant is distributed correspondingly well in this upper rounded area 14 of the receptacle 4 and transferred with commensurate uniformity to the interior of the digestion vessel 2, from where it can then run down in the gap 8 toward the edge 5, where a corresponding recess 11 is arranged in the manner of a ring in this receptacle 4 from which the coolant can be discharged via holes 12 with outlets 13.

(11) It is also indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the exterior of the receptacle 4 can have, below the area with the ports 10, discharge grooves 20 that can optionally hold and carry away excess coolant.

(12) According to FIG. 3, the already-mentioned arch 14 of the upper end area of the receptacle 4 is adapted to the corresponding shape of the interior or reaction chamber of the digestion vessel 2 so that, in this area as well, the gap 8 has about the same width as in the other areas.

(13) FIG. 3 also shows that the digestion vessel 2 to be cooled has at least one temperature sensor 15 that is connected to a control unit or a regulator 16 for the coolant supply such that, when a predetermined temperature of the digestion vessel 2 is reached, the coolant supply can be stopped with the aid of a valve 17. In this way, the cooling of the digestion vessel 2 for too long can be avoided. Rather, what can be achieved is that it is cooled to a favorable temperature such as is advantageous for continued use.

(14) FIG. 3 shows, moreover, that the apparatus 1 has a connector for a temperature transmission connection 18 to a temperature sensor (not shown in further detail) of the calorimeter 3 which can also be connected to the control unit or the regulator 16, so that the coolant supply can be stopped when the temperature of the digestion vessel 2 reaches a value predetermined by the calorimeter which, in turn, can be measured again via the temperature sensor 15.

(15) In this way, it can be achieved that the digestion vessel 2 is cooled to a temperature at which it can be used immediately in the calorimeter 3.

(16) In a manner not shown in further detail, a device for drying the interior of the digestion vessel 2 enclosing it according to FIG. 3 can be provided on the receptacle 4, it being possible for the receptacle 4, in addition to the coolant line or lines 6 and 9, to have at least one gas or air supply line, again with port, for supplying gas or air after the cooling process, thus enabling the drying of the interior or reaction chamber of the digestion vessel 2 after wetting with cooling liquid.

(17) With the aid of the apparatus 1, the digestion vessel 2 can therefore be loaded on its interior facing its reaction chamber with cooling liquid or water and be wetted such that this coolant or water runs at least in places or, preferably, over the surface of the interior of the wall of the reaction chamber and runs out, thus carrying the heat away. Through the arrangement of the nozzles 10 in the upper, preferably arched area 14 of the otherwise approximately cylindrical receptacle 4, the coolant is applied as a liquid film on the interior of the digestion vessel 2 and the interior is sprayed with coolant such that it runs down over this interior wall as a film, which is supported by the fact that, between this interior wall of the digestion vessel 2 and the receptacle adapted in its outer shape to this interior shape of the reaction chamber, only a gap 8 is open.

(18) In order to cool the digestion vessel 2 of a calorimeter 3 using a liquid coolant, a receptacle 4 is provided over which the attachment device 2 is placed during the cooling process and has one or more ports 10 for a cooling liquid with which the interior of the digestion vessel 2 is wetted such that the coolant runs in places or in areas over this interior of the digestion vessel 2, thus carrying the heat thereof away.